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bloo'sgirl33x: I know I'm testing your patience but the pace will pick up next chapter.

mindorinasu: Hope you like this one too!

Vampyre 1.5: I really wanted to make an imaginary friend that didn't look like most of the others, that stood out. I think I sort of did that . . . maybe . . . : )

Chapter 3: Crackers?

The room was simple and orderly, dressed in shades of green.

"Now, I understand your reason for coming here is that your creator was moving?", Mister Herriman asked, not unkindly.

"Yes."

"However, I also know that your family adopted a friend from here not long ago." Herriman continued.

Satin nodded, "Yes. They didn't have room for a large imaginary friend but they were able to keep Ginger."

"I see." Herriman said, turning to look out the window, "Tell me, Miss Satin, do you require any special accommodations?"

Satin thought for a moment but couldn't see any reason why she would need a special room, "No, sir."

"Do you have medical conditions? Allergies perhaps?"

"No, sir."

"Any aversions? People, places, or objects you cannot stand to be in the vicinity of?" Herriman turned back to look closely at her.

Satin locked her hands together in her lap and shook her head, "Not that I am aware of, sir."

Herriman considered this for a moment, "And how are you with children?"

Satin paused, taken aback by this question. She'd been created by a child, wasn't the answer obvious?

"I get along with them fine. Why wouldn't I?"

Herriman took a seat behind his desk, "We do, on occasion, take in friends who do not get along with anyone except their own creator. Also, I am considering how well matched you would be to the occupants of the open rooms we have."

Satin sat up a little straighter.

"All the private rooms are taken at this moment, however, there are several rooms that are only partially filled. Tell me, would you dislike living with a male?"

"No, sir." Satin replied.

"Very well, then. I believe I have found a roommate well suited to your attitude." he passed her a picture of a cute fuzzy pink creature, "His name is Crackers. A long-time resident. He's somewhat childlike but I believe it would be a perfect match."

Satin passed the picture back, "Thank you, sir."

"You're very welcome, Miss Satin. Now if you'll just sign this form we can admit you to the house."

Satin looked down at the piece of paper in front of her on the desk. Across the top the words FOSTER'S ADMITTANCE APPLICATION. This was it, this would ensure that she was abandoned and was staying at Fosters until someone took her in . . . She was signing away her creator. Accepting the long fuchsia colored quill that Mister Herriman passed her, she signed her name: Satina Marie

She paused, then swiftly added, Carr, Natalie's last name to the end.

Mister Herriman accepted the form, secreting it away in a file as he said, "Welcome to Fosters, Miss Satin. Master Wilt will take you to your room."

Satin carefully rose and exited. Wilt was waiting for her, leaning against the wall, "Hey! How'd it go?"

"I'm rooming with someone named Crackers?" she replied, looking up at him questioningly.

"Crackers! He's great, you'll like him." Wilt picked up her bags and smiled, "Your room is in the hall above mine. If you ever need any help I'm just downstairs. I live with three other friends in the seventeenth door on the left."

As they began their trek through the endless hall of Fosters Satin became disoriented, the home was so huge . . . It was dizzying.

Pausing in the middle of an ornate room decorated in blues and greens she held her head, "Please, could we wait a second?"

Wilt took one look at her and set the bags down, "Sure. Hey, are you okay?"

"I . . ." Satin rubbed her temples, why did it have to be so hard?

"Hang on a sec, okay?" Wilt guided her to an overstuffed chair, "I'll get you a glass of water. I'll be right back."

As he moved toward the door, Satin touched his arm, "Wait."

"Yes?" he replied, turning back toward her.

Her eyes expressed immense gratitude, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." he said, patting her hand, "I'll be right back okay?"

She nodded and closed her eyes, leaning back in the chair. Wilt left the room, a worried look on his face.

Satin sighed as tears crept through the fur on her face, had it really been only a few minutes ago that she'd last held Natalie's hand? No . . . it must have been days . . .

"Coco? Cocococococococococo?" asked a nearby voice.

Satin opened her eyes to see two imaginary friends looking at her worriedly. One was . . . Well, Satin couldn't really tell what it was. It appeared to be the personification of a desert island plane crash. Behind it, cowering, was a large purple creature with fangs, horns, and large eyes. It reminded her of a Viking for some bizarre reason.

"Coco? Cocococococococococo?" the plane crash repeated.

"Um . . . I don't . . ." Satin began, wondering if her sanity was slipping.

"Co Co? Co coco co coco co co coco?" the friend said again, enunciating each sound with care as though it would make Satin understand it any better.

"I don't understand." Satin finally said.

"She just wanted to know if you were okay." said a familiar voice, as Wilt reentered the room and handed Satin a glass of water.

"Oh. I'm fine, thank you." Satin said to the creature politely, with a glance at the water in her hand she looked up at Wilt, "And thank you as well."

He flashed her a smile, "No problem. Hey, Eduardo, Satin's okay. She's new. She's going to be Crackers' new roommate." Wilt said, addressing the Viking monster cowering behind the plane crash.

"Eh . . .Are you sure Wilt?" he asked in a cookie monsterish voice that made Satin smile.

"Yes, she's nice. Oh," he exclaimed, seeing Satin's look of confusion, "These are two of my friends, Coco . . . Well, you can guess which one that is, and Eduardo. Coco, Eduardo, this is Satin."

"Coco." screamed Coco.

"Hola." said Eduardo shyly.

"Nice to meet you." Satin replied.

"Are you okay Satin?" Wilt asked, bending down so that he could look at er more closely with those stalk-like eyes of his.

"Yes." she replied, "I think I got a little overwhelmed. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Happens to everyone. Are you ready?"

With a deep breath, Satin stood, "Yes, I think so."

They both stood and Wilt looked at the others, "See you guys later."

"Coco!"

"How do you find your way around here?" Satin asked, the moment they stepped out into the hall.

"Landmarks." Wilt replied, with a smile, "See this plant? It's a peace lily, our hallway is the only one with a peace lily by it. So you go up these stairs here . . ." as they emerged into another seemingly endless corridor he continued, "We end up in you hallway. Let's see . . . There, see that painting of imaginary friends playing poker? That's how you can ell where your hallway is. If you need any help just stop someone and ask them, friends are pretty helpful around here."

"This place is just so . . . Big." Satin said, staring up at the ceiling, "I've lived all my life in a two story farmhouse and now I have to remember . . . How many floors is it?"

Wilt thought for a moment, "Somewhere around thirteen to seventeen at last count."

Satin laughed, "You don't know?"

"I don't think anyone does." he answered honestly, "Even Madame Foster can't make her mind up on it. Ah, here's your room, seventeenth on the left. Hey! That puts you over our room!"

Satin smiled, it was nice to know she had a friend . . . Or at least a familiar face, close by. Wilt set down the suitcase and knocked on the door, "Hello?"

"Come in!" called a welcoming voice.

Wilt pushed the door open and Satin caught her first glimpse of what was to be her home until her adoption. It was a simple green room with a bunk bed, sink, mirror, dresser, end table, and a wicker dog basket which was currently occupied by a small fluffy pink thing reading a book.

"Hey Wilt! How's it going? Who's your friend?" the creature asked, laying it's open book over the edge of the dog basket.

"I'm okay. This is Satin. Satin, this is Crackers." Wilt introduced.

"A pleasure to meet you." Satin said to the little creature bowing her head slightly.

"Nice to meet you to!" he seemed a chipper little guy, his wide eyes stared up at her happily, reminding her of a stuffed animal.

"Crackers, Satin is going to be your new roommate. Is that okay?" Wilt asked, stepping inside with Satin's luggage.

Breaking into one of the widest grins Satin had ever seen, the pink friend replied, "Okay? That's GREAT! I haven't had roommates since Zora and Greeny left last year!"

"Okay then. Well, I'll see you guys later. Satin, if you need anything remember, I'm right downstairs. Crackers, help her out some for me okay? Teach her the ropes." Wilt said with a friendly smile as he left the room.

Satin sunk into the bottom bunk and laid back, closing her eyes. This day seemed to be going by so fast. Suddenly, she was aware of a warmth by her side. Opening her eyes she found herself looking straight into the face of Crackers.

"Tough first day?" he inquired, sitting back so as not to be so close to her face.

"Not tough just . . . Emotional." she replied.

"Not to worry, you'll start feeling better soon. Foster's really is a great place. I should know, I've been here nearly a decade."

"Really?" she asked, propping herself up on one elbow, "That seems like a long time."

Crackers nodded, "Yeah, but others have been here longer than me. Like Wilt, he's been here for about seventeen years and he's been adopted once."

"Once? In seventeen years?"

Crackers nodded solemnly, "I've never been adopted but I'm still hopeful." he paused then said, "I guess you'll want to get unpacked and stuff. If you don't need me I'm going to read a bit more."

Satin smiled and sat up, "Feel free."

Crackers bounded back into his basket and picked up a book entitled, Chicken Soup for the Imaginary Soul. Satin smiled as she dragged her two suitcases over to the dresser, maybe she would like it here after all . . .